Pre-race Jitters

I know I said in my last post that I would call again after the race, but this is different. It is Friday, almost exactly 5am in the morning, and I have been awake since 1:20, and I just cannot get back to sleep. I've had a drink, I've had some cereal, I've read for over an hour, I've been back to bed, I've had some more drink, some more food, some more bedtime, and nothing has worked. I keep thinking about the race, and I guess I must be nervous.

This is different to last year. Back then I slept soundly until the night before the race, when I didn't sleep at all and just lay awake, actually scared of the next day. This time, in contrast, I'm confident I'll be able to do well, but my sleep this week has been patchy, alternating between 9-hour sleeps and hours of lying awake in bed.

The other problem I've got are nocturnal cramps. That's something I've been dealing with since my teenage years, but over the last few years it was reduced to 2 or 3 episodes per year. However, I've had no less than 3 nocturnal bouts of cramp this week alone, twice in my left calf and once in my right, and tonight my right calf felt like it was going to cramp, but didn't since I've been walking around a lot because of my restlessness. I really don't know what's causing it. According to wikipedia dehydration is a common cause, but I'm definitely not dehydrated. I'm ruling out a lack of magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium as well, because my diet should provide plenty of each. Reduced blood flow through the muscles attendant in prolonged sitting or lying down? Well, sure, I've got a desk job, but why would that be any different this week? Could it be the reduced mileage? I've run 12 miles this week, which is less than my daily average during full training, but still. I would not expect the short-term absence of training to cause cramps. As a runner who is prone to cramps anyway (I've experienced cramping in 3 of my 6 marathons, as well as my only ultra to date), this is rather worrying.

And guess what? The weather forecast is less than appealing. We had a gorgeous day yesterday, 16C/60F at lunchtime, just like during last year's race. And guess when this is going to end? Yup, Sunday. Apparently the rain will set in when I'm about 10 miles from the end. And guess some more, of the next 5 days which one is supposed to be the most windy? Yes, Sunday again. 17 mph / 28 km/h isn't exactly unprecedented, but I'd rather do without.

According to the organisers, the ultra will feature a very strong field this year, including, amongst others, Jez Bragg, the best ultra runner in the UK. I think I can forget about a top 10 finish, even if I manage to reach my time goal.

It's almost 5:30. Maybe I'll try and sleep again. Thanks for indulging me.